Adrien & Jon’s Adventurous California Home

Name: Adrien Rabago and Jon Schmidt
Location: Leimert Park — Los Angeles, CA
Size: 1,900 square feet
Years lived in: 8 months; Owned

Situated on a quiet tree-lined street in the up-and-coming Los Angeles neighborhood of Leimert Park, Adrien and Jon’s home cheerfully welcomes you with its mint green exterior—and what’s inside is no less affable and bright. Adrien, a fashion stylist and owner of Adrien’s Closet, and Jon, an actor and writer, have furnished their first home with impressive speed and attention to detail. While they’ve lived there for only eight months, they’ve decorated to a degree that takes many homeowners years to achieve.

While the couple was lucky to find a remodeled turnkey home that still had character, Adrien’s impressive collection of clothing meant that they needed to convert their detached garage into a studio space for her business. While decorating the house, Adrien adapted her risk-embracing approach to fashion and applied it to her home decor. And let me tell you—it paid off. From their beloved reupholstered palm frond chair (see the Before & After here) to their bathrooms that double as art galleries, pattern, colors and textures somehow manage to converge in a way that would be hard to imagine without seeing the end result that is Adrien and Jon’s home.

Our Style: Since I (Adrien) decorate interiors on the side, it only made sense that I furnish and style our own home. Our décor is the epitome of eclectic. I love to combine contemporary and traditional elements, Mid-century modern pieces and vintage finds from all eras—something old with something new, always. I find myself mixing bold bright colors, fun prints, unique artwork, layers of rugs, stacks of books, and luxurious textures. I wanted to create a sense of warmth and whimsy. We always want our guests to leave feeling that they just had a special experience while visiting us in our new home. Playing old records and setting the lighting just right always creates a fun and welcoming atmosphere!

Inspiration: We get so inspired while traveling the world, watching classic films, and while visiting museums, flea markets, Palm Springs hotels, our favorite spots in Los Angeles, and just about anywhere else. We are constantly finding inspiration in art, fashion, and music.

Visiting flea markets and local shops is mandatory while we are traveling. To add to our ever-growing collection, we pick up at least one special piece on every trip we take.

Favorite Element: Our floor plan is one of our favorite elements—it is especially great for entertaining. While Jon is in the kitchen cooking, we can still socialize since our sitting room and the countertop/bar opens up to the kitchen. Our home has such a great flow. The original hardwood floors, the fireplace, and our huge backyard are definitely added bonuses!

Biggest Challenge: Committing to landscaping.

What Friends Say: A combination of oooohs and ahhhhhs, as well as “We love what you did with your home,” and “How long have you lived here?!” That last comment refers to our house feeling so lived-in after such a short amount of time. Adrien was very quick to decorate and get our home in working order just one week from moving in. She doesn’t mess around!

The biggest compliment is that our friends always feel right at home when they are over, and they never ever rush to leave! Mission accomplished!

Biggest Embarrassment: We haven’t gotten around to getting a special order window panel for this impossibly tiny window in our living room. It needs something to cover it to give us privacy while we are watching TV. Anyone that walks up to our door could see right in if there wasn’t something there. So, Adrien jimmy-rigged a scarf to cover the window for now. It’s totally embarrassing, but add it to the ever-growing list of things that need to be done when you own a home. Ugh.

Proudest DIY: Hands down, Adrien’s styling studio. (Check out the Before & After post!)

Biggest Indulgence: Throughout his years of playing music on various keyboards during apartment living, Jon always talked about how amazing it would be to have a real piano. So finally, he went out and bought a gorgeous vintage Yamaha piano for our home. The piano really completes our sitting room. Nothing makes Adrien happier than being serenaded by her husband!

Best Advice: Take risks. Be adventurous with prints, patterns, and textures. Create a home that complements the style of every occupant. More is more when it comes to art (as you can see from our home!). If you get sick of a room you can always switch around furniture, add color to the walls, accessorize the space with different artwork and bric-a-brac, etc. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Dream Sources: Kelly Wearstler, Elle Décor, Dwell, Gray Malin Photography, Jonathan Adler, the set of Mad Men.

• Walls: Sherwin-Williams Bone
• Trim: Sherwin-Williams Swiss Coffee
• Exterior walls: Sherwin-Williams Svelte Sage
• Exterior trim: Sherwin-Williams Useful Grey, satin finish
• Front door: Sherwin-Williams Theater Red

• Mid-century modern couch: Blueprint
• Orange ombré wool rug: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Coffee table: Melrose Trading Post
• Picasso pillow: purchased on our Honeymoon in Santorini, Greece
• Vintage linen British flag pillow: Melrose Trading Post
• Chinese porcelain vase: Williams-Sonoma
• Black porcelain box: West Elm
• Black-and-white striped platter: Laraine Eggleston
• Vintage wood dish: Ali Woods in Honolulu
• Black-and-white striped pillow: One Kings Lane
• Fashion Designers book: Museum of FIT
• Other coffee table books: local flea markets, thrift stores
• Coral: Melrose Trading Post
• Vintage ceramic domino tiles used as coasters: Rose Bowl Flea Market

• Vintage Yamaha piano: Craigslist piano collector
• Vintage orange leather bar stools: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Vintage rattan bar stools: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Printed footstool: Palm Springs thrift store
• Pendleton blanket: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Palm leaf chair: chair from Melrose Trading Post, reupholstered with Tommy Bahama fabric in Swaying Palms from Michael Levine Fabrics (Adrien’s favorite piece ever—check out the Before & After!)
• Velvet yellow pillows: custom-made using fabric from Michael Levine
• Vintage Leather top side table: Craigslist
• Chinese porcelain pot: Melrose Trading Post
• Printed wool rug: Melrose Trading Post
• Mid-century leather chair: Craigslist
• Art Deco mirror: Craigslist
• Orange shell pot: Melrose Trading Post
• Vintage gold ashtray: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Vintage telephone: Estate sale
• Portrait over piano: Melrose Trading Post

• Linen curtains: IKEA
• Vintage Drexel dining table and chairs: Chairish, chairs re-upholstered with fabric from a Mid-century bedspread
• Eames replica host and hostess chairs: Craigslist
• Wool rug: Crate & Barrel
• Vintage leather club chair: Melrose Trading Post
• Light fixture: Lamps Plus
• Succulent terrarium: DIY project
• Mid-century glass sets: Melrose Trading Post
• Alligator head: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Nu Bleu Debout by Henri Matisse, c.1952 print: One Kings Lane

• Striped nautical wool rug: HomeGoods
• Glass blown vase: Kosta Boda
• Wood fruit bowl: Spencer Peterman
• Vintage hobnail glass jars, set of three: Melrose Trading Post
• Various vases and bric-a-brac: local flea markets, estate sales

• Vintage lockers: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Vintage trunk: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Vintage airforce photos: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Vintage American flag: eBay
• Bed with storage: IKEA
• Vintage Chesterfield settee: estate sale
• Belgian linen duvet and pillows: Restoration Hardware
• Velvet pillows: Ralph Lauren
• Mid-century dresser: Sunbeam Vintage
• Shag rug: Sunbeam Vintage
• Nightstands: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Coral lamps: Pottery Barn
• Artwork in hallway leading to bedroom: Vintage 1920’s framed prints found at Melrose Trading Post. The seller said he got them when he was living in Paris.

• Rug: World Market
• Vintage shell: Estate sale
• Artwork: local flea markets, estate sales
• Magazine holder: Target
• Striped towel: Ikea

• Vintage blue crushed velvet daybed: One Kings Lane
• Chandelier: Tiffany’s Vintage store
• Reclaimed wood mirror: LA Mirror Man
• Velvet settee: Craigslist
• Grey and white striped wool rug: Rugs USA
• Zebra rug: eBay
• Industrial pipe racks: Home Depot
• Vintage trunks: Craigslist
• Green zig zag chair/desk combo: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Round side table next to green chair: Santa Monica Airport Antique Market
• Vintage printed side tables: Rose Bowl Flea Market
• Bison skull: flea market in Santa Fe, NM
• Artwork: original photography by various photographers, styled by Adrien
• Picture frames: thrift stores, local flea markets
• Long octagonal mirrors: Goodwill, then spray painted gold by Adrien
• AC letters: Melrose Trading Post, spray painted gold by Adrien

ADRIEN’S CLOSET RENTAL SPACE

• Chandelier: Tiffany’s Vintage store
• Palm frond rug: Society6
• Vanity stool: National Jewish Women’s Council Thrift Store
• Mirror: Homegoods. It was the most hideous color, so I (Adrien) refinished the wood. I painted it black, let the paint dry, and then I took sandpaper to it. It turned out with a patina-like finish. Don’t ask me how, but I love it!
• Jewelry case: TJ Maxx
• Tall yellow shelf: some random thrift store on Pico Boulevard in LA. I stopped in years ago when I found this piece and I haven’t been able to find it since.

• Vintage reclaimed chair bench: Mr. Anderson’s Country Benches booth at Melrose Trading Post
• Rug: World Market
• Striped vintage beach chair: Melrose Trading Post
• Red and white planter: Tiffany’s Vintage store
• Meditative sculpture: West Elm

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